Starting switch



Feb. 19, 1929.

o. w. BRICKER STARTING SWITCH K 2 Sheets-Shee t Filed March 1, 1926 INVEN'F R. 0% 0. 7

M MATTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, 1929.

o. W. 'BRICKER STARTING swrrcri 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y J INVENTOR Filed March 1, 1926 Patented F eb. 19,1929.

1,702,590 P T NT :QF IC Q oromvntannomo, a CORPORATION or OHIO. 1

I sf'rAmimo SWITCH.

' Application fll 'e d March 1, 1926. Serial No. 91,639.

' My 'inventionis an improvement in; start ing" switches and is adapted in'orparticularly for use in starting dynamotors used in the electric welding of rail joints and the like.

An important object of myinvention is the construction of a'starting' switch ofthe above named character which permits of a sufficient lapse o'ftime between each s'uccessivefstep thereof so that the motor will have a'n opportunity to speed up before the next step is t-hrownin. Another important object of my is the construction of a starting switch having a plurality of contacting arms adapted to is be operated in successive steps, and having automatic means for releasing the arms.

Another object ofmy invention is to construct a switch of the above character having both manual and automatic releasing means. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description of my invention progresses, reference being had to the accompan'ying drawings formingfa part of this specification and in which like numerals are spring; 22 coiled about one end of the shaft 19 i and having one of its ends embedded in a colused to designate like parts throughout. In the drawings: j r i i i Fig. 1 isa plan view of the switch shown mounted on an insulating panel; f I Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe main shaft and assembly; 1 j I Fig. 3 is ase'ction taken on line 3-*3of Fig. 1, showing the pawl and ratchet "construction on the left hand "end of the main shaft; v Fig. 4'is a section taken on line 4 -4 of ig. 5 is adetail view of one of the ratch- H, a

. Fig. 6 is a section takeli on line of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 isa slightly 'enlar-gedend view on line7.-7 of Fig. 1; A

- Fig. 8 is a detail of a second ratchet device and,

, In the drawings, the entir'e'switch assembly is mountedonan insulated panel 4- and includes a series of contactingarmameans for operating the arms, and contact blocks which are engaged by the contact arms. A cover 5 is provided forthe switch mechanism andis shown in Fig. l partly broken away, p I provide a supporting frame 6which carries end supporting brackets and 8. Inter- -notches ofthe ratchet are engaged by the this ratchet'will' be described presently. It willbe noted that theouterside face of this Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring i I i earns 32, 33 and 34 keyed to rotate with the mediate these brackets and along thebaseof v the frame are a series of supporting arms 9' extending downwardly in Figs. 1 and 3 which are provided with aligned openings to carry a supporting shaft'10. This shaft is adapted to'carrythej contact arms 11, 12 and 13, as

shown,each arm being rotatably mounted between '9. pair of the supporting arms 9. On

the ends of the shaft I provide collars to prevent any great amount of longitudinal move- 6 1 ment of the shaft 10. invention I The'supporting brackets 7 and 8 are in alignment and are provided with bearing surfaces 16 and 17, respectively. -Bracket 7 carries a resilient stop member 18 which will be described more fullyasflt-he specification proceeds. i i

A shaft 19 is mounted to rotate in either direction upon the bearings 16 and 17 and is held in place by bearing blocks 20 and 21 which provide theupperbearing surfaces for the shaft. The shaft is provided with tension means for normally tending "-to rotate the shaft in one direction, which consists of a coil lar23 secured to the end of the shaft and its other end embedded in the top bearing block 20. The bearingblock 2O isslotted as at 24 and'carries therein a' pivoted pawl 25 having a handle 26 ofinsulat1ng material. Keyed to c the shaft 19 is a ratchet member 27 shown in detail in Fig. 5; This ratchet rotates with the shaft 19 and abutsthe stop 18 when the pawl tooth 28 carried by the pawl 25. Re- 1 ferring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that this ratchet is provided with two-notches 29 and 30 and a cam surface 31. The operation of ratchet abutstheinner side walls of bracket 7 7 and bearing block 20 serving to prevent longitudinal displacement of shaft 19.

At intervals along shaft 19, I have shown shaft and adaptedtoengage rollers 35, 36 and 37, respectively, carried by arms 11,12 and 13, respectively, when the shaft 19 is rotilted.

,A collar 38 fixed to the shaft 19 maintains theshaft against longitudinal movement to the right in Fig. 1 by abutting the side of bearing block 8.

1 A second pawl and ratchet device is mount- 1 10 ed on the right hand end of shaft19 Fig. 1 and consists of a rachet 39 Fig. 4'fixed to the shaft and a freely movable pawl carrying cage 40 enclosing said ratchet and shaft end.

A freely movable pawl 41 is mounted within the cage so that it will contact with the rachet 39. The cage is also provided with an outwardly extending projection 42, which seats a small coil spring 43, and carries pawl 44 having an insulated operating handle 45.

The pawl 44 is adapted to engage the'teeth of the ratchet 39shown in detail in Fig. 4 under compression of the spring-43.

A disc 46 of insulating material and a second smaller, but thicker disc \47are secured to thecage 40 by screws. This second disc carries an operatingarm48 having an'insulated handle 49 for rotating cage140and the pawls 41 and 44. about ratchet 39. A pivoted armature 50 is suspended belowthe handle for engagement with r the I poles '51 of an electromagnet and whencurrent-is applied to the magnet and whenthe armature is in contact'with the poles, the armatureand handle will be heldthereby, until the electromagnet is de-energized.

Secured to the base of bracket 8 is a pawl stop and trip. device consisting of-a substan tially vertically extending arm 52 having a head 53 to limitthe movement of the operating handle 45, when thesame is moved in that direction. It willbenoted that the upper edge of a stopplate- 54 is beveled as at 54 and that the plate'is removably attached contact with the cams 32,33 .and 34,1 respectively', when sh'a' ft 19 is rocked.

The outer ends of the contact arms are each provided with 'an upwardly extending projection adapted to seat-one endof the springs 63,- 64 and 65-,irespectively. The opposite ends of the springs-engage pivoted contact pieces66, 67 and 68,1respectively, and

normally forcethem forwardl i I have provided contact bloc s which-consist essentially of-copper. contact'members 72' bent upwardly fromthe panelwand partially housing carbon blocks 73. The carbon blocks abut the outwardly projecting portion of thecopper pieces :but their upper contacting surface is'short of the upper contacting surface of the members 72. It will be seemtherefore, that as" the arms 11,12-and 13 are rocked to bring the contacts 66, 67 and 68,

respectively, into contact with the respective blocks, the contacts will first engage the carbon block and when the respective arms are rocked to completecontact position the contactswill engage the copper members. This method of making the initial contact'between copper and carbon and then finally between a two copper members results in a more perfect electrical contact and less arcing. Of coursewhen the contact is broken, the final step in the break occurs between copper and carbon. 1 p

t The tendency to arc is greater. at the contact 66 on arm 11 than at the other contacts and to help overcome this condition I have provided blowout coils 7 4and7 5 each in close proximity to the contacts and creating a strong magnetic field directly across the path of the arc. Such a magnetic field has a quenching effect on the arc. These coils are protected from direct exposure to the are by sections of refractory material as shown at 76.. f

Ihavealso provided sections of refractory.

material on the opposite sides of contact 67,

as shown at 77, to prevent any tendency of i a spreading are at this point although the tendency to are at thispointzis somewhat reduced. Each of thearms 11, 12-and 13 is provided with connector strips 78 to provide a more positive connection from the contacts 66, v67 and68 respectively,.to suitable binding posts on the rear of the panel.

I will now describe the operation of the device. through the various steps.

The switch beingopen, contactarms 11, 12 and 13 .are normally held up and out ofcontact positionby rollers 35, 36 and 137 comii-ngflintocontact with cams 32, 33 and 34 respectively.

' When it. is desired to close the switch to operate the dynamotor to which it is connect- 26d, the ,operator grasps handle 49 with the right hand and handle 26 with his left. .A forwardmotion is imparted to lever 48 and the discs 46 and 47 are rotated carrying cage a40 ,-pawl44 and handle 45 andcausing the spring-pressed pawl 44 to ride over the ratchet surface toengage tooth A forthe first step. Asthe handle 49 isymovedforwardly several actions take place simultaneously, namely, pawl 44 engages tooth A of the ratchet 39 whichis keyed to shaft 19-, and turns shaft 19 against the tension of spring .22.v As the ratchet andshaft revolve the free pawl 41,.will engage the cam section 80of the ratchet and as the ratchet and free pawl-assume an advanced position during the first step, the pawl 41 will be forced to abut the stop 54 thus limitingthe-movement of the shaft and handle. NVhen the shaft and han dle 49 have been thus advanced duringthe ifirst step, the ratchet '27. also has. been advanced so that its first notch 29 is engaged the contact. Y

rator prevents any by the pawl 28. The 0 s aft 19b maintainbackward rotation of inigt sufficient pressure on the han le'26 the V sure to handle 26 to prevent backward turning of shaft 19. Durin' the first step it will be observed thatas sha t 19 is turned cam 32 is rotated partly in contact with roller 35. As the cam leaves this roller it engages roller and forces arm 11 downwardly to make The second step is similar to the first ex cept that ratchets 27 and 39 are advanced a step as shown in Figs. 3 and 7 by dotted lines, and the pawls 28 and 44 now engage the notch 30 and tooth B respectively. During the second step the cam 33 disengages roller 36 and engages roller 36 to move arm 12 into contact position. It will be noted that further movement of cams 32 and 33 during the three steps merely serve to lock arms 11 and 12 in contact position. I i a After operating handle 49 has been returned to normal position for the third step and the operator has securely held the shaft against rotation by means of handle 26, the apparatus is ready for the fin'al step.

As the handle 49 is again moved forwardly pawl 44 engages tooth C of the ratchet and moves the ratchet forward. During this latter motion the free pawl 41 will not engage the cam surface 80 of the ratchet, but will fully seat itself within cage in order to pass over the stop 54. This permits thehandle49 to be depressed forwardly until the armature 50 is carried thereby comes into contact with the poles of the electromagnet as shown at 51. As in the previous steps described, cam 34 disengages roller 37 andengages roller 37, forcing arm 13 into contact position. It is no longer necessary to depress handle 26 since the switch is now entirely closed and current is passing through the magnet which securely holds the armature and, consequently, the operating handle 49 in place.

When it is desired to release the switch arms from their contact positions, it is only necessary to exert a forward pressure upon handle which releases pawl 44 from en'- gagement with tooth C of the ratchet 39, and causes shaft 19 to return to normal position by virtue of sprin 22 which, during the closing operation, has heen coiled under tension.

Likewise, if for any reason current should cease to energize the electro-magnet, the armature would be released returning shaft 19 to normal position, since manual pressure has been released from the pawl 28.

In Figure 9 I have illustrated diagrammatically the wiring of the switch only to the points where connections are made at the base terminals ofthe switch.

It is tobe understood that various changes may be made inthe construct-ion described without departing from the spirit of thein vention, or the scope of the subjoine'd claims.

1 I claim 1 1. In a starting switch for dynamotors,-a base, a multiplicity of contact arms pivotally mounted thereon, contact blocks cooperating with said contact arms, and means for causing said arms to engage said contact blocks in step by step relation, said means including a shaft,

cams carried by said shaft to engage and rock said arms and ratchet wheels carried at the ex-' tremities-of the shaft to rotate therewith, pawl devices to enga e the ratchets, operating handles forsaid paw s, and means to limit the g rotation ofsaid shaft during some of the contacting steps.

2. In a starting switch for dynamotors, a

base, a multiplicity of contactarms pivotally mounted thereon, contactblocks cooperating with said contact arms, and means for mounted thereon, contact blocks cooperating with said contact arms, and means for causmg sald arms to engage said contact blocks in "causing said arms to engage said contact step by step relation, said means including a shaft, cams carried by said shaft to engage and rock said arms an ratchet wheels carried at the extremities of the shaft to rotate therewith, pawl devices to engage the ratchets, operating handles for said pawls, and means to limit the rotation of said shaft, including an auxiliary pawl movable with one of said other pawls. 1

4. In a starting switch for dynamotors, a

base, a multiplicity of contact arms pivotally mounted thereon, contact blocks cooperating with said contact arms, and means for causing said arms to engage said contact blocks in step by step relation, said means including a shaft, cams carried by said shaft to engage and rock said arms and ratchet wheels carried at the extremities of the shaft to rotate therewith, pawl devices to engage the ratchets, operating handles for said pawls, and means to limit the rotation of said shaft, including an auxiliary pawl movable with one of said other pawls, said auxiliary pawl being inoperative during the last of the step by step movements.

5. In a device of the class described, a base, a multiplicity of contact arms mounted. thereon, contact blocks cooperating with the arms,-

said arms being dished near the enrlthereof, rollers carried by said arms on opposite sides of the dished port-ions, a shaft passing transversely of the arms and approximately centrally of the dished portion saidshaft carry-. ing cams thereon opposite each arm to contact with said rollers, and means for rotating the shaft in step by step fashion, whereby the cams will first contact with the rear armrollers and then with the centrally disposed rollersto rock the respective arms in contact position.

6. Ina device of the class described, a base,

a multiplicity of contact arms mounted there- "on, contact blocks cooperating with the arms,

said arms being dished near the end thereof,

i rollers carried by said arms on opposite sides of the dished portions, a shaft passing transversely of the arms and approximately centrally of the dished portion, said shaft carrying cams thereon opposite each arm to contact with said rollers,-and means for rotating the shaft in step by step fashion, whereby the said arms being dished 'near theend thereof, rollers carried by said arms on'opposite' sides of the dished portions, a shaft passing transversely of the arms and approximately centrally of the dished portion, said shaft carrying cams thereon opposite eacharm to contact with said rollers, and means .for rotating the shaft in step by step fashion, whereby the cams will first contact with the rear arm rollers and then with the centrally disposed rollers to rock the respective arms in contact position, and means for maintaining the shaftin advanced position, and means for releasing the shaft upon disruption of the circuit which hasbeen closed by the switch.

8. In a starting switchfor dynamotors, a base, a multiplicity of contact arms pivotally mounted thereon, contact blocks cooperating with said contact arms, and means for causing said arms to engage said contact blocksin step by step relation, said means including a shaft, cams carried by the shaft to engage and rock said arms and ratchet wheels carried atthe extremities of the shaft to rotate therewith,

rotation of said shaft during all but one of the said steps. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 20th day of February, 1926.

ORRIN w. BRIGKER. 

